Heat exchange unit

ABSTRACT

In a heat exchanging system wherein a first compartment is disposed for reception of refrigerated air from a refrigerating and condensing unit, a heat exchanging means is provided in communication with the refrigerated air in said first compartment and is arranged for reception of the air from a second compartment, whereby a first circulating member forces the refrigerated air through said heat exchanger to provide for indirect conductive chilling of the air from the second compartment also circulating through said exchanger. The refrigerated air in the first compartment may be maintained at a temperature in the vicinity of 0* F., and through its forced circulation through the heat exchanger provides for chilling of the air in the other compartment to a cooled temperature in the vicinity of 32* F. The process of performing this heat exchanging operation includes the steps of first refrigerating the air in said first compartment down to the temperature desired to provide supercooling of food or other products, while a quantity of said air is circulated by fan means through a heat exchanging means and with the concomitant circulation of the air in another compartment also through said means provides for an indirect chilling of the atmosphere in said second compartment to allow chilling of other food products, or the like, stored therein.

ilnite States Patent [191 French, 111 et a1.

1 HEAT EXCHANGE UNIT [75] Inventors: Horace Edgar French, 111,

Montgomery, Ala.; Harold F. Smith, Garland, Tex.

[73] Assignee: UMC Industries, Incl, New York,

[22] Filed: Dec. 29, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 319,213

Primary Examiner-William J. Wye Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Paul M. Dcnk [11 58 5 [4 Sept. 10, 1974 [57 ABSTRACT In a heat exchanging systemwherein a first compartment is disposed for reception of refrigeratedair from a refrigerating and condensing unit, a heat exchanging means isprovided in communication with the refrigerated air in said firstcompartment and is arranged for reception of the air from a secondcompartment, whereby a first circulating member forces the refrigeratedair through said heat exchanger to provide for indirect conductivechilling of the air from the second compartment also circulating throughsaid exchanger. The refrigerated air in the first compartment may bemaintained at a temperature in the vicinity of 0F., and through itsforced circulation through the heat exchanger provides for chilling ofthe air in the other compartment to a cooled temperature in the vicinityof 32F.

The process of performing this heat exchanging operation includes thesteps of first refrigerating the air in said first compartment down tothe temperature desired to provide supercooling of food or otherproducts, while a quantity of said air is circulated by fan meansthrough a heat exchanging means and with the concomitant circulation ofthe air in another compartment also through said means provides for anindirect chilling of the atmosphere in said second compartment to allowchilling of other food products, or the like, stored therein.

13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures HEAT EXCGE UNIT changing, but moreparticularly, pertains to the exchanging or conducting of some coldtemperature from refrigerated air indirectly to cool a second quantityof air.

The prior art is replete with various types of air conditioning and airrefrigerating apparatuses that are constructed essentially for coolingor refrigerating a particular space. Usually, these early apparatusesdraw in air from an outside source, normally the exterior, which is thenexposed to the condensing unit of a refrigerating apparatus for eventualdischarge into a room to chill the same, while additional air within thesame room is recirculated to maintain a constant temperature.

The concept of this present invention is to supplement the use of theseprior art treating inventions, and to extend their use to provideconditioning of multiple capacities of air from a single refrigeratingsource so that select constant temperature may be maintained in aplurality of separate spaces.

In view of the foregoing, it is the principal object of this inventionto provide a multi-compartment heat exchange system wherein therefrigerated atmosphere in a first compartment can be passed through aheat exchange means to provide supplementary cooling of separate air inanother compartment.

It is a further object of this invention to provide for supplementarychilling of air in a second compartment from the refrigerated airindependently enclosed in a first compartment, and wherein the absolutehumidity or moisture content of the air in the refrigerated air space ismaintained at a relatively low level, uninfluenced by the normallyhigher moisture content of the chilled air space.

Another object of this invention is to provide a multieompartment heatexchange system that may be adopted for use on truck assemblies toprovide means for the storage and transit of frozen products, while atthe same time providing a chilled atmospheric space or additional spacesadjacent the refrigerated room that allows for transit of perishable,but unfrozen, food products.

Another object of this invention is to provide for conditioning of airin multiple compartments through the agency of a single refrigeratingmeans.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for conditioningthe atmosphere in a plurality of rooms, with the system being soarranged to provide for efiiciency in heat transfer between saidplurality of compartments without consuming too much of space.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent tothose skilled in the art in reviewing the following summary of theinvention, in addition to studying the description of the preferredembodiment in view of its drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention contemplates the use of a singlerefrigerating means that is arranged for refrigerating the air on onecompartment down-to a temperature in the .vicinity of F., obviously forthe purpose of freezing products storedtherein, with a secondcompartment, maintained perhaps adjacent to said first compartment,

having its air circulated through a heat exchanging apparatus forconducting some of the low temperatures of the first compartment tochill the air in said second compartment. The heat exchange apparatusmay be mounted upon a common or party wall between the two compartments,or, if the two compartments are maintained at a separated distance, atleast duct work will provide for conveyance of the separate air from thetwo compartments to and through the heat exchange means to provide fortheir indirect exposure as through conducting to each other to providefor the supplemental chilling of the air in said second compartment.Through experimentation and testing, a temperature in the vicinity of0F. established in the first refrigerated compartment will providesufficient energy for reducing the temperature in the second andseparate compartment down to a vicinity of 30F to 38F, assuming the twocompartments are of approximately equivalent size. On the other hand,the two compartments may be 'of differing sizes, and the temperatureregulation in the first compartment, in addition to the controlledoperation of the heat exchanger, will provide an approximate temperaturein the second compartment.

The heat exchange apparatus is designed having a casing provided with amajor passageway arranged through its interior, with the air ingress andegress openings of said major passageway communicating into the secondcompartment or chill room. In addition, there are provided at least apair of openings into the heat exchange casing from the refrigeratedcompartment, and these two openings are in communication with each otherthrough the agency of a tube bundle arranged across the said majorpassageway, as previously described, so that refrigerated air may passinto the casing, through the tube bundle, and then be returned back intothe refrigerated. room. To facilitate and induce transfer of theseparate bodies of air from the two compartments and through the heatexchanger, air circulating members, such as blowers or fans, anddisposed at either the entrance openings or the exits of the heatexchanger into the respective compartments, and through their operation,forced circulation of the two bodies of air are directed into andthrough said heat exchanger for treating the air in the secondcompartment.

Various means for precisely controlling the influence that therefrigerated air may have upon the chilling of the air in the secondcompartment, or chill room, may be achieved through thermostatic controlthat allows periodic and timed operation of the respective aircirculating means integral of the heat exchange apparatus and asassociated with each separate compartment. For example,temperaturecontrol may be provided in the refrigerating room to insurethat the temperature in said room is maintained at the desired lowlevel, as for example, at OF., and said thermostat can regulate thetemperature in this compartment either by timing the operation of therefrigerating means, or, for more indirectly control, by regulating thefunctioning of the air circulating means that transfers the refrigeratedair through the heat exchange apparatus. Obviously, if the air in therefrigerated room is continuously transferred through the heat exchangeapparatus, greater heat will be absorbed from the second compartment byconduction, and eventually raises the temperature in said refrigeratedroom unless the functioning of the refrigerating apparatus itself islikewise, independently thermostatically controlled. In addition, thecontinuing operation of the air circulating means of the heat exchangeapparatus associated with the second compartment can effectincreasedconduction of cold temperature from the refrigerated room, alsoeffecting its established temperatures. Hence, thermostatic controls inboth compartments provide for precise coordinated operation of both ofthe air circulating means of the heat exchange apparatus, in addition tothe condensing unit and evaporator of the refrigerating apparatus. Inthis manner, a precise low temperature in the vicinity of F may beestablished and maintained in the first compartment, while a chillingtemperature in the vicinity of 30 to 38F. may be maintained in thesecond compartment. Desirably, the air circulating means or blower ofthe heat exchange apparatus associated with the refrigerated room iscycled through a timer or thermostatic control, which has been found toprovide the best means for regulating moisture conditions that may arisein the heat exchange apparatus, as caused from the OF atmosphere,thereby providing continuous or near continuous operation of the aircirculating means or fans associated with the second compartment.Alleviating I BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, FIG. 1discloses an isometric partial view of the pair of compartments of thisinvention having the refrigerating apparatus arranged in conjunctionwith the first compartment, with the heat exchange apparatus connectingto the common wall;

' FIG. 2 provides a side view of the multi-compartment heat exchangesystem shown in FIG. 1, also disclosing, schematically, the circuitouspaths of the separately circulating air currents;

FIG. 3 provides an isometric view of the heat exchange apparatus of thisinvention, also disclosing the paths of the separate air currents;

FIG. 4 provides an elevational view of the heat exchange apparatus ofthis invention shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 provides a side view of the heat exchange apparatus shown in FIG.4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREP ERRED EMBODIMENT In referring to the drawings,and particuarly FIGS. 1 and 2, there are disclosed the mechanicalcomponents that provide for the performance of the teachings of thisinvention comprising a housing 1, which in this particular instance, iscomprised of two separate: compartments 2 and 3, separated by a commonor party wall 4. The first compartment 2 is in communication with arefrigerating apparatus generally identified at 5, and which includes aconventional condensing unit 6 consisting of the standard compressor,condenser coils, fan motor and blade, receiver tank, and other necessarycontrols. This condensing unit communicates by means of a pair ofrefrigerant flow lines 7 and 8 with a conventional evaporator 9,consisting of the usual finned coil, fan motor and blades, refrigerantcontrolling devices,

and essential means for defrost. For purposes of convenience, thecondensing unit may be arranged exteriorly of the housing '1, while theevaporator coils are disposed within the compartment to be refrigerated,with the compressed refrigerant being transferred to and removed fromthe same by means of said flow lines 7 and 8. Obviously, thisarrangement of the refrigerating apparatus provides for the chilling ofthe air or atmosphere within the first compartment 2 by means of itsoperation, and the temperature of the air maintained therein may bereduced to any degree desired, but generally, as required in the foodindustry, a temperature maintained in the vicinity of OF., orthereabout.

Disclosed mounted through the common wall or bulkhead 4 is the heatexchange apparatus 10 of this system, and as previously described, isdevised for providing independent circulation of the air in therespective compartments 2 and 3 through its interior to provide fortheir indirect but conductive heat exchange relationship therein.Essentially, the refrigerated air in.

the first compartment 2 is to be conductively exposed to the circulatingatmosphere in the compartment 3 to provide for its lowering of thelatters temperature. The structure of this heat exchange apparatus 10 ismore aptly disclosed in FIGS. 3 through 5, and is shown comprising anoverall casing having a series of passageways provided therethrough forindependent circulation of air, as follows. A blower 11 is operativelyassociated within the apparatus proximate its upward level, and isdesigned having an intake port or duct 12 through which the refrigeratedair in the compartment 2 is drawn in, and then blown or circulateddownwardly out of its outlet duct 13 for direction of its forced currentof refrigerated air through the tube bundle 14 arranged transverselyacross the center of the apparatus 10. This blower 11 is of conventionaldesign incorporating the usual squirrel cage or other form of fanproviding for forced circulation of air. The refrigerated air, asdepicted at A, moves laterally across the heat exchange apparatus,through the tube bundle l4, and exits the apparatus at the outlet side15'for a return back into the refrigerating compartment 2.

The heat exchange apparatus 10 is preferably formed having a compositecasing with the tube bundle 14 being disposed therethrough, withessentially said cas ing provided having a major passageway for forcedtransfer of substantial quantities of the air within the compartment 3therethrough. This passageway, as identified generally at 16, comprisessubstantially the central interior of the apparatus 10, having an inletport or duct 17 provided at its downward region, with an outlet port 18provided at an upward location. A series of air circulating means orfans 19, of conventional design, are disposed across the outlet port 18,and are arranged for drawing under forced circulation the air from saidsecond compartment 3 into the port 17, upwardly through the passageway16 of the heat exchange apparatus, forcing the air to filter through thetube bundle 14 arranged transversely thereacross, and then acquiring itsre-entrance back into the compartment 3 through said outlet port 18.Obviously, the forced circulation of the refrigerated air fromcompartment 2 through the tube bundle 14, and its plurality ofindividual tube conduits 20, provides its conductive exposure to thecirculating air of the compartment 3. Obviously, since the aircirculating from compartment 2 may be maintained at a temperature in thevicinity of 0F., the

atmosphere within the compartment 3, while passing through thepassageway 16, will lower in temperature through its conductive exposureas it passes around the conduits of said tube bundle 14.

The arrangement of the various air circulating means, and preferably theblower 11, is as disclosed in the drawings, with the blower 1 1 beinglocated at an elevation approximately in line with the refrigerated airemanating from the evaporator 9, so that a concentration of the justrefrigerated air will be directed towards and absorbed into the blower11 to provide a more effective heat exchange within the apparatus 10. Inaddition, various forms of controls, either'of the thermostatic or heatsensitive type, or timers, or combinations of both, may be utilized forregulating the operation of the various air circulating means of theheat exchange apparatus 10, so that the desired freezing temperature maybe maintained in the compartment 2, while a particular chillingtemperature will likewise be established and sustained within thecompartment 3. Through thermostatic controls, the separate temperaturesmay be adequately maintained, and through the coordination of theoperation of the various blowers andfans of the heat exchanger 10,simultaneously with the operation of the refrigerating apparatus 5,established temperatures may be-maintained in the discrete compartments.Furthermore, another advantage of this invention is that the chilling ofthe air in the compartment 3 may be accomplished with the minimalcreation of moisture conditions in said compartment, thereby alleviatingthe necessity of any defrosting therein, and none or little of itsmoisture will be transferred into the refrigerated room, which obviouslyhas a very low relative humidity. Likewise, since a certain capacity ofthe heat is obviously drawn from the air in compartment 3, through theoperation of heat exchange apparatus 10, the tube bundle of thisapparatus, through experimentation, does not form icing conditions thatnecessitates its defrosting. Preferably, the cycle of operation of theheat exchange apparatus is controlled through the periodic and timedperformance of the blower 11, which avoids a continued exposure of thetube bundle 14 to constant zero temperatures, thereby avoiding theformation of ice on its tube bundle, while allowing the warmer air inthe compartment 3 to continue circulation to insure and prevent icebuild-up. Hence the formation of any ice within the heat exchangeapparatus 10 has not been any problem, and in actual usage, theapparatus has functioned in a manner which eliminates and dispenses withits periodic defrosting. It should be noted that to insure separation ofthe two quantities of air described herein, a wall 21 separates thepassage 16 from the refrigerated air flowing from the blower 11 into thetube bundle 14.

Preferably, the temperature in the first compartment will be maintainedbetween about 20 to +lOF., and this type of temperature condition willsustain a temperature between 20 to F. in the second compartment. Such atemperature relationship has not required the use of the defrostinginstrumentalities in the heat exchanger. But as previously summarized,this invention also contemplates the chilling of multiple compartments.For example, a first compartment may be refrigerated to the vicinity of-25F., thereby chilling a second compartment to a temperature around +10to 38F while a third compartment, communicating with the secondcompartment through another heat ex- 6 changer of this invention, mightbe cooled to the 60 to F. range. In this instance, it might be necessaryto provide some means for defrosting the heat exchangers, particularlythe one associated with the first and second compartments.

Other modifications upon the structure of this invention as hereindescribed may occur to those skilled in the art in light of theforegoing disclosure. Any such modifications that encompass theprinciple of this invention are intended to be protected by the claimshereinafter set forth. For example, the air circulating means, such asthe fans 19, might be arranged at the downward part of the heat exchangeapparatus, or these fans may be operated in the reverse manner from thatshown so as to draw warmer air in through the top port 18, while exitingthe same out of the bottom port 17 after it filters conductively aroundthe tube bundle 14. The described preferred embodiment is merelyillustrative.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. A multi-compartment heat exchange system wherein the refrigerated airin one compartment is utilized to chill the air disposed separately in asecond compartment without any intermixing of the two quantities of airtogether and comprising, a refrigerating apparatus operativelyassociated with said first compartment and designed to refrigerate theair in said compartment, a heat exchange means associated with both saidfirst and second compartments, a common wall separating said first andsaid second compartments and said heat exchange means mounted to saidcommon wall to provide a heat exchange relationship between the two saidquantities of air, said means including an air circulating memberoperating to draw in the refrigerated air of the first compartment, andsaid means also incorporating another air circulating member for drawingin the air from said second compartment, and through a heat exchangerelationship said means conductively effecting a chilling of the air inthe second compartment through its conductive exposure to the.

refrigerated air in said first compartment.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the air in said compartments areindirectly exposed to each other in a heat transfering relationshipwithin the heat exchange means without said discrete quantities of saidbecoming intermingled.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said air circulating membersoperatively associated with said heat exchange means provide forseparate transfer of the discrete air in said compartments through saidheat exchange means. a

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said heat exchange means is providedwith a conduit to draw in and conduct therethrough the refrigerated airfrom the first compartment and then return said refrigerated air to saidfirst compartment, said means also provided with a passageway to draw inand conduct therethrough the air to be chilled from the secondcompartment and then return said chilled air to said second compartment,and said conduit and passageway being maintained separate but in a heatexchange relationship through said'common wall. t

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said air circulating memberscomprise a first blower directing said refrigerated air through theconduit of said heat exchange means, and a second blower causing the airof said second compartment to circulate through said passageway toeffect its reduction in temperature.

6. The invention of claim wherein the conduit for the refrigerated airthrough the heat exchange means comprises a tube bundle, and thepassageway providing for circulation of the air to be chilled comprisingduct work through the heat exchange means and having said tube bundlearranged therethrough in a heat transferring relationship.

7. The invention of claim 2 wherein the first and second compartmentsare adjacent each other and separated by said common wall, and said heatexchange means being mounted throgh said wall.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the compart ments of said heatexchange system comprise the enclosed trailer portion of a vehicle.

9. The invention of claim 5 wherein the air circulating memberassociated with the first conduit is disposed at the entrance of saidconduit and when operative forcing the refrigerated air through the heatexchanger.

10. The invention of claim 9 and wherein said refrigerating apparatusoperatively associated with said first compartment directs itsrefrigerated air into the same, the circulating member associated withsaid conduit being disposed in the flow of the air emanating from saidapparatus to enhance the entrance of the refrigerated air into andthrough said heat exchanger.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said conduit of the heat exchangerincludes a tube bundle.

12. The invention of claim-11 wherein the air circulating memberassociated with the passageway is arranged at the exit from the samewhereby air is drawn into and through the heat exchanger and indirectlyexposed to the temperature of the refrigerated air thereby conductivelyeffecting chilling of the air in said other compartment.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein the air in said first compartmentis refrigerated to between about 25 to +10F., and the air in said othercompartment is conductively chilled through the agency of said heaexchanger to between about 20 to 40F.

1. A multi-compartment heat exchange system wherein the refrigerated airin one compartment is utilized to chill the air disposed separately in asecond compartment without any intermixing of the two quantities of airtogether and comprising, a refrigerating apparatus operativelyassociated with said first compartment and designed to refrigerate theair in said compartment, a heat exchange means associated with both saidfirst and second compartments, a common wall separating said first andsaid second compartments and said heat exchange means mounted to saidcommon wall to provide a heat exchange relationship between the two saidquantities of air, said means including an air circulating memberoperating to draw in the refrigerated air of the first compartment, andsaid means also incorporating another air circulating member for drawingin the air from said second compartment, and through a heat exchangerelationship said means conductively effecting a chilling of the air inthe second compartment through its conductive exposure to therefrigerated air in said first compartment.
 2. The invention of claim 1wherein the air in said compartments are indirectly exposed to eachother in a heat transfering relationship within the heat exchange meanswithout said discrete quantities of said becoming intermingled.
 3. Theinvention of claim 2 wherein said air circulating members operativelyassociated with said heat exchange means provide for separate transferof the discrete air in said compartments through said heat exchangemeans.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said heat exchange means isprovided with a conduit to draw in and conduct therethrough therefrigerated air from the first compartment and then return saidrefrigerated air to said first compartment, said means also providedwith a passageway to draw in and conduct therethrough the air to bechilled from the second compartment and then return said chilled air tosaid second compartment, and said conduit and passageway beingmaintained separate but in a heat exchange relationship through saidcommon wall.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said air circulatingmembers comprise a first blower directing said refrigerated air throughthe conduit of said heat exchange means, and a second blower causing theair of said second compartment to circulate through said passageway toeffect its reduction in temperature.
 6. The invention of claim 5 whereinthe conduit for the refrigerated air through the heat exchange meanscomprises a tube bundle, and the passageway providing for circulation ofthe air to be chilled comprising duct work through the heat exchangemeans and having said tube bundle arranged therethrough in a heattransferring relationship.
 7. The invention of claim 2 wherein the firstand second compartments are adjacent each other and separated by saidcommon wall, and said heat exchange means being mounted throgh saidwall.
 8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the compartments of said heatexchange system comprise the enclosed trailer portion of a vehicle. 9.The invention of claim 5 wherein the air circulating member associatedwith the first conduit is disposed at the entrance of said conduit andwhen operative forcing the refrigerated air through the heat exchanger.10. The invention of claim 9 and wherein said refrigerating apparatusoperatively associated with said first compartment directs itsrefrigerated air into the same, the circulating member associated withsaid conduit being disposed in the flow of the air emanating from saidapparatus to enhance the entrance of the refrigerated aiR into andthrough said heat exchanger.
 11. The invention of claim 10 wherein saidconduit of the heat exchanger includes a tube bundle.
 12. The inventionof claim 11 wherein the air circulating member associated with thepassageway is arranged at the exit from the same whereby air is drawninto and through the heat exchanger and indirectly exposed to thetemperature of the refrigerated air thereby conductively effectingchilling of the air in said other compartment.
 13. The invention ofclaim 12 wherein the air in said first compartment is refrigerated tobetween about -25* to +10*F., and the air in said other compartment isconductively chilled through the agency of said heat exchanger tobetween about 20* to 40*F.